The UK's top 10 postcodes for car theft have been identified including one town near Merseyside.
The data revealed motorists in a Leicester postcode were most at risk of having their cars stolen with 342 thefts recorded by police last year.
The list, obtained in a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA, puts the L39 postcode in Ormskirk in the top ten with 177 thefts between January 1 and December 31, 2020.
READ MORE: Mum and son evicted from flat which she actually owns
Other postcodes in the top 10 are in Darlington, Milton Keynes, Slough and Swindon.
Fiestas are the most popular model for thefts, followed by the VW Golf, Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Corsa.
In affluent postcodes in parts of Aldershot, Hants, and Swindon, Wilts, the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery were the favourite steal.
London remains the national hotspot for all auto crimes, including break-ins, but the Sunday People data pinpoints the exact localities where the vehicles are stolen.
Expensive marques including Mercedes and Audis are targeted for export by gangs stealing to order for rich clients.
Remote control jamming technology has made it easier to get into cars with electronic locking.
Police and motoring associations warn drivers to park only in busier areas, preferably where CCTV cameras are visible.
Owners are also advised to park with wheels at an angle to make it more difficult for vehicles to be pushed or towed away.
The AA’s Luke Bosdet said owners should look out for clues to an area’s theft rate.
He said: “The place to go is local police Twitter, crime reports and local media. They act as an early warning for a possible spate of thefts so that owners can take preventative action.
"Put the car in a garage if you have one, alert neighbours and look out for any suspicious activity when walking the dog.”
Top ten postcodes / number
1. LE2 (Leicester) 342
2. SL1 (Slough) 285
3. SN5 (Swindon) 268
4. GU11 (Aldershot) 263
5. B25 (Birmingham) 256
6. MK14 (Milton Keynes) 252
7. SK3 (Stockport) 233
8. DL1 (Darlington) 225
9. SL3 (Slough) 192
10. L39 (Ormskirk) 177
